The beauty of software

If you are the kind of person that thinks software development is lifeless and dull, think again. A vivid method of visualizing programmers as they collaborate is taking shape on the web. ‘Gource’ displays software projects as an animated tree that dynamically changes as the respective project does, albeit speeded-up.

The root directory of the project is at the tree’s center, the program directories appear as branches and the files as leaves. Developers can be seen working on the tree at the times that they contributed to a project. As a project grows, the animated tree organically changes shape, while displaying all the colors of the rainbow.

Programmers are displayed as miniature avatars. When collaborating, they fire laser-like connections to other nodes or clusters on the software tree and dance around various software projects. The viewer is treated to an explosion of movement and light, in an aesthetically pleasing and psychedelic visual experience. The background music adds to the ambience too – enjoy.

 - Adrian Giordani, iSGTW